58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
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I drove by a new business in the area last weekend and spotted two TF trucks parked outside. As NAPCO trucks they were both cool but one was over the top unusual imo. 1958 GMC Suburban Carrier w/ what appeared to be an original V8, full bed, Hydramatic, and power steering. Folks might be thinking the long truck on the right similar to today's "Suburban" is the one I'm talking about, but in 1958 the "Suburban Carrier" was GMC's answer to the "Cameo Carrier."
I am curious about the power steering. The system appeared to be a Chevrolet style system with the control valve on the pitman arm and a power assist cylinder. The GMC I had years ago had a power steering box with control valve and assist piston built in like today's vehicles. But maybe the 1/2 ton Jimmy was different? |
Re: 58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
Those are cool..!!!.....I'd be knocking on the door to ask about them...
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Re: 58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
That 57 Burb looks close to one that my then stepfather tried to talk my mom into around 1960 She didn't bite and ended up with a 58 Merc colony Park wagon.
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I imagine the Merc was a better choice. I can't imagine the Burb giving a smooth ride.
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Re: 58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
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Re: 58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
The control valve on the pitman arm and power assist cylinder work the same as those on many Fords including at least 65 66 Mustangs and a number of late 50's early 60's chevys.
The sensor controls the pressure the cylinder puts out and controls the direction that it pushes or pulls. You absolutely don't want to rebuild one and get the adjustment of or it is an all day fight to get it right. I've done about three in my life an the first one wanted to make turns one way or the other on it's own when I got it back together and it took a lot of effort to get it adjusted right. No internet to run to to get an answer and if the shop manual you had was somewhat vague you had to go to the dealer and ask to see their shop manual . |
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Is your truck 1/2 or 3/4 ton? Mine came from a 3/4 ton truck and I wonder if that made a difference. I can see that the frame of this 1/2 ton model looked taller where the box was mounted. Quote:
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Re: 58 GMC Suburban NAPCO and Chevrolet 3166
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old guy might have thought any bed with sides was fancy smacy
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Wow, that sounds amazing. How do you have a clock and a tach at the same time?? This truck sounds like somebody got an inheritance and went crazy. I can't imagine the guy who wants a Fiberglass cameo bed ALSO needs a 3/4 ton around the farm... I suppose if he had a really nice boat, but even the adverts show a man loading some super light peat moss into the bed at his suburban tract home. |
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The truck was nice enough that folks who had been in town for a few years knew about it and remembered seeing it on the road when new. They could even tell me what long-gone dealership it had been ordered from. I don't remember the names of the old dealers there anymore. I was constantly looking for parts rigs while I built mine and several people told me I should check this one out. Owner said the rear axle was blown. It might have been but the drums were solidly rusted to the shoes and I didn't have the experience to get past that. The wheels wouldn't fit on my six lug truck though because I checked. I liked the old, knobby tires and had kid dreams of using them. I installed the power steering on my Chevy but because of the frame differences and my lack of experience I didn't do the job well. I used a newer pump without realizing there was a pressure difference and it kept blowing seals. Plus I had no way to duplicate the frame at the top of the box and my hacked attempt left the box installed slightly crooked. I did my best to duplicate the notch but I couldn't overcome the difference in the height of the frame rail. Never even notice that until I was trying to bolt up the box. :( Your reply sounds sarcastic but generally you're helpful to folks. I have an honest question about a truck I owned for a short time 35 years ago. The configuration disagrees with published facts but as I double check what I remember there are things such as not being able to use the wheels, the truck having cab marker lights, my clear memory of "things sticking out through the wheels" (first time seeing a full floating rear) and even notes on the 3/4 ton version of the trans in the GMC having different gear ratios than the Hydramatic in one of my 1/2 ton Chevy trucks. Without actually seeing the bed there's no way to confirm it had the fiberglass version. So could a determined person have special ordered a truck built with the same options on a 3/4 ton chassis? What if they had a friend at the dealership?? |
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Although it makes you wonder what other kind of special order treats might be out there... could you special order GMC parts for a Chevy? |
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